Lighting device in the door of a vehicle

• US 6,160,475 A
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sidler GmbH & Company
• Original Assignee: Sidler GmbH & Company
• Inventors: Jaiser, Thomas, Kempf, Anton, Fessler, Klaus-Peter, Merz, Bern, Hornung, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/312,862
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/458, 340/438, 362/806, 362/802, 362/488, 362/501, 362/252, 362/800, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/217 Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/78 for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A lighting device comprises at least one door light (4) provided in a door (2) of a vehicle, the light source of which (6) is disposed behind a wall (7) of a door covering, in particular a trim (3), wherein the outer side of the wall (7) is formed, in this region (8), by a light-permeable decorative layer (10) which has a surface pattern when the light source (6) is switched off corresponding to the remaining surface decor of the wall (7). The light-permeable decorative layer (10) is introduced onto a transparent plastic (13) using the IMD method. It is thereby possible to impart an arbitrary surface design to the light-permeable decorative layer (10).

Claims

1. A lighting device for installation on a door of an inner compartment of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a light source disposed within the door;

a transparent plastic wall covering said light source, said transparent plastic wall having a first surface facing said light source and a second surface facing an outer surface of the door;

a light impermeable layer disposed on said second surface of said transparent plastic wall, said light impermeable layer having an opening for passing light from said light source; and

a light permeable layer disposed on and covering said light impermeable layer, said light permeable layer completing an outer surface of said lighting device bordering the inner compartment of the vehicle,

wherein said light impermeable layer and said light permeable layer are injection molded onto said transparent plastic wall using an IMD method, wherein said lighting device has a surface decor matching other surface decor of the door when said light source is switched off.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said opening in said light-irermeable layer is spaced as a symbol.

3. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises at least two door lights disposed next to each other, and further comprising means for electrically controlling said door lights to form at least one of a blinking light and a running light.

4. A method for warning drivers of vehicles, the method comprising the steps of:

a) installing a light source within a door of the vehicle;

b) preparing a transparent plastic wall for covering said light source, said transparent plastic wall having a first surface for facing said light source and a second surface for facing an outer surface of the door;

c) IMD injection molding a light impermeable layer on said second surface of said transparent plastic wall, said light impermeable layer having an opening for passing light from said light source;

d) IMD injection molding a light permeable layer on and covering said light impermeable layer, said light permeable layer completing an outer surface of said lighting device bordering an inner compartment of the vehicle, wherein said lighting device has a surface decor matching other surface decor of the door when said light source is switched off;

e) covering said light source with said transparent plastic wall, said light impermeable layer, and said light permeable layer following step d); and

f) controlling a switching of said light source to warn drivers of following vehicles.

5. A method for warning drivers of vehicles, the method comprising the steps of:

a) installing a light source within a door of the vehicle;

b) preparing a transparent plastic wall for covering said light source, said transparent plastic wall having a first surface for facing said light source and a second surface for facing an outer surface of the door;

c) IMD injection molding a light impermeable layer on said second surface of said transparent plastic wall, said light impermeable layer having an opening for passing light from said light source;

d) IMD injection molding a light permeable layer on and covering said light impermeable layer, said light permeable layer completing an outer surface of said lighting device bordering an inner compartment of the vehicle, wherein said lighting device has a surface decor matching other surface decor of the door when said light source is switched off;

e) covering said light source with said transparent plastic wall, said light impermeable layer and said light permeable layer following step d), wherein said light source is disposed in the door for at least one of ground illumination and inner compartment illumination.